April 2007

Release Date: April 23, 2007

Kristen Elaine Truett has been named recipient of Angelo State University’s 2007 Presidential Award while four other ASU undergraduate students have been selected for 2007 Distinguished Student Awards from their respective colleges.

Truett of San Angelo will be recognized at ASU’s May 12 commencement exercises along with the four Distinguished Student Award honorees representing each ASU college. The Distinguished Student Award recipients are: Jacob R. Spencer, College of Business; Alicia Leanne McNeal, College of Education; Laura Christeen Calmes, College of Liberal and Fine Arts; and Melissa Warren, College of Sciences. Other nominees were: Hollie Elaine Allred from the College of Liberal and Fine Arts; Betsy L. Ryan of the College of Business; and Cassidy Louann Smith of the College of Sciences.

ASU’s Academic Excellence Committee will host a public reception at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 30, in the Houston Harte University Center Theater (UC 110/111) to honor the nominees and recipients. ASU President James Hindman will present plaques to each recipient and nominee.

A double major in chemistry and mathematics, Truett was nominated by both the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Department of Mathematics. She is the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Carr Academic Scholarship, the Special Academic Scholarship for Chemistry, and the Dr. Merrill Everhart Scholarship. Truett will graduate with highest honors from the ASU Honors Program. Her academic accomplishments were recognized by induction into Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society, and Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society.

Truett held numerous leadership positions, including president of Alpha Chi, Pi Mu Epsilon and Alpha Lambda Delta. A recipient of a Welch Research Grant, Truett presented the results of independent research projects at the ASU Student Research Showcase and the Alpha Chi National Convention. Her strong record of extracurricular and community service activities earned her selection to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and recognition as a United States Achievement Academy All-American Scholar. She plans to pursue graduate studies in either chemistry or material science in preparation for a career as an industrial chemist.

Spencer, also of San Angelo, was nominated by the Department of Computer Science, where he is majoring in computer science with a minor in physics. He enrolled in ASU after serving three years in the United States Air Force. He holds membership in Alpha Chi National Honor Society. Spencer received the Carr Academic Scholarship, the Northrop Grumman Excellence in Information Technology Scholarship and the Edwin S. Mayer Sr. Memorial Scholarship. He served as president of the Society of Physics Students and treasurer of Animeyhem and was a member of the Association for Computing Machinery. He competed as a member of the ASU Computer Science Programming Team, tutored for the Computer Science Department and participated on the Society of Physics Students’ Peer Pressure Team. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science or computer engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas.

McNeal, nominated by the Department of Teacher Education, is an interdisciplinary child development and learning major from Colorado City. She is a recipient of the Carr Academic Scholarship and the J. L. Bishop Scholarship. Her academic performance merited induction into Alpha Chi National Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society. McNeal mentored students through her department’s Helping One Student to Succeed program, participated in projects of the ASU Student Reading Council and volunteered for numerous community projects in Colorado City. She has been involved in a year-long research program aimed at improving the experience of pre-service teachers at ASU. McNeal plans to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten or elementary school teacher and hopes to pursue graduate studies and work as an elementary school counselor in the future.

Calmes, nominated by the English Department, is a double major in English and journalism from Lubbock. Calmes received a Carr Academic Scholarship and the Millard Cope Scholarship in Journalism. She earned membership in Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta National English Honor Society and Alpha Mu Gamma National Honor Society in Spanish and was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She served on the Student Senate and participated in intramural sports and Sigma Phi Lambda sorority activities. She chronicled her experiences as a study abroad participant at Richmond University in London for the Ram Page, published in Oasis and interned with San Angelo Family Magazine. Calmes will enter Texas Tech University’s master of arts program in English in the fall and hopes to pursue a doctorate and a university teaching career.

Warren , nominated by the Department of Biology, is a biology major and chemistry minor from Hereford. A recipient of the Carr Academic Scholarship and the J. M. Archer scholarship, Warren’s high academic performance earned her induction into Alpha Chi National Honor Society and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society as well as selection to the Joint Admissions Medical Program. Warren mentored elementary students through the Helping One Student to Succeed program and served as a leader of ASU’s Electron Pusher’s Club. She completed summer internship programs at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Warren will enter medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston in preparation for a career in pediatric oncology.